Opening the Door
Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Salary and Demographic Profile
Premium Report Partner
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Skilled and talented people fuel the innovation and growth of Canada’s bio-economy. Each
year, our industry welcomes hundreds of new college and university graduates in all areas of
the industry, eager to enter the workforce. The cost of hiring new grads is often a challenge for
companies in biotech. So much so, in our recent Labour Market Study, a majority of biotech
companies we surveyed across Canada stated their greatest business challenges as “access to
capital,” followed closely by “access to talent.”
The Career Focus federal wage subsidy program addresses both these challenges directly.
Funded by the federal government’s Youth Employment Strategy, it opens the door for new
graduates to their first biotech job and at the same time, helps firms in the industry offset the
cost of on-boarding.
This report is a compilation of the salary and demographic profiles of new graduates in Canada’s
biotechnology sector. It gives a snapshot of hiring trends regionally and nationally, and can
serve as a guide for students who plan to enter the biotech job force, and for employers to use
to ensure their recruitment and compensation programs remain current and competitive.
I am pleased to say that with the funding support of the federal government, since 2005
BioTalent Canada has successfully given over 400 new graduates their first jobs in biotech. It is
by far BioTalent Canada’s most successful program to date.
With the continued support of federal, provincial and municipal governments, BioTalent
Canada is committed to helping new graduates continue to make a substantive contribution
to Canada’s vibrant bio-economy.
Rob Henderson,
President and CEO, BioTalent Canada
BIOTALENT CANADA
BioTalent Canada is the HR partner of Canada’s bio-economy. As an HR expert and national
non-profit organization, BioTalent Canada focuses on building partnerships and skills for
Canada’s bio-economy to ensure the industry has access to job-ready people. Through projects,
research and product development, BioTalent Canada connects employers with job seekers,
delivers human resource information and skills development tools so the industry can focus on
strengthening Canada’s biotech business.
Table of Contents
Opening the Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Canada’s Bio-economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Industry in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
About Career Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About Career Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Employer Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Benefits for New Graduates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Career Focus Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Premium Report Partner
New Grad Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Bio-economy New Graduate Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
New Graduate Infographic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Placement Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Visible Minorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
New Grad Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
New Graduate Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Salary Increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Visible Minorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Preferred Official Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Previous Employment Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Career Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The National Occupational Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The North American Industry Classification System . . . . . . . . . . 18
Where science meets business.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
mbiotech.ca
Major Partners
Norma K. Biln, Chief Executive Officer,
Augurex Life Sciences Corp.
Executive Patron
Skills Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Skills and Competency Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Occupations with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Occupations with a Master’s of Science Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Final Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Would this Position Have Been Created Otherwise? . . . . . . . . . . 24
Impact for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Gathering the Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Supporting Report Partners
Opening the Door
Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Salary and Demographic Profile
BioTalent Canada is a national non-profit
organization devoted to extensive research
in Canada’s bio-economic labour market.
Grads often leave school for the first time only
to discover that most employers want a year
From 2013-15, BioTalent Canada worked
with biotech companies across the country
to place new graduates from Canada’s
universities and colleges in their first private
sector jobs through the Career Focus wage
subsidy program.
of relevant private sector work experience
The program is designed to off-set the
on-boarding and training costs a company
incurs by hiring an un-tested candidate
for the first time. The program has been a
resounding success for the industry and for
new graduates.
experience? It’s a classic catch-22.
before they’ll be considered as a viable hire.
How does a new grad secure a year of
work experience without a year of work
“As a startup company, every penny counts.
These types of initiatives really help us to push
beyond what we could do on our own.”
Derek Glennie, VP Engineering,
Spartan Bioscience Inc.
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
1
Canada’s Bio-economy
THe INDUSTRY IN BRIEF
Canada’s bio-economy is largely divided into four sub-sectors of the
broader bio-economy (see Figure 1-1). The majority of Canada’s biotech
companies appear to be concentrating on biotech R&D. Over 80% of
Canada’s biotech companies are small or medium sized enterprises
when measured both by number of full-time employees and also by
total gross revenue. For new graduates wishing to enter this sector, it
can be difficult to identify and connect with these companies – but
these are the companies that are hiring.
Biotechnology innovation is a classic example of this sector’s
contribution to the Canadian knowledge economy.
The bio-economy can be defined as the economic activity associated
with the invention, development, production, and use of products
and processes that are based primarily on biological resources.1 The
bio-economy includes the use of resources from agriculture, forestry,
fishery-based biomass, and organic waste. The field is multidisciplinary
in that it cuts across health, energy, agriculture, chemicals, and materials
industries.
Similarly, biotechnology involves the comingling of basic sciences
(such as biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, immunology,
microbiology, pharmacology, fermentation, and agriculture) with
various engineering fields related to biotechnology applications.
1
See OECD 2009. The Bio-economy to 2030: designing a policy agenda. Chapter 1. OECD: Paris
2 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
d equipment service
R & D an
s
Bio-health
Agri-biotech
Bio-energy
Bio-industrial
d equipment service
R & D an
s
d equipment service
R & D an
s
Bio-molecules
d equipment service
R & D an
s
Figure 1-1: S ectors of the Bio-economy and Example Products, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
3
ABOUT CAREER FOCUS
About career focus
For many new graduates, landing a job without extensive work
experience is a challenge. Yet without that first biotechnology position,
the necessary experience will never come. BioTalent Canada’s Career
Focus Program paves the way to employment by helping offset the
costs of orientation, integration and skills development.
123
132
56
15
95
33
72
0
30
2014-15
2013-14
2012-13
60
2011-12
2009-11
90
120
150
2008-09
2005-08
Figure 2-1: Career Focus Wage Subsidy Program
Placements, BioTalent Canada, 2015
The Career Focus Program is a wage subsidy program, funded by the
federal Youth Employment Strategy, for bio-economy employers to
hire the talent they need and for recent graduates to gain the work
experience they require – by subsidizing a portion of the salary of a
recent graduate.
Employer Benefits
Through the Career Focus Program biotech employers are able to:
•
•
•
•
Meet their staffing needs with less financial risk
Grow their business
Access a pool of eager-to-learn new workers
Develop new talent within their companies
Benefits for new graduates
Through the Career Focus Program participants are able to:
•
•
•
•
4 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Gain real-world work experience in biotech
Establish a network of bio-economy contacts
Develop personally and as a bio-economy professional
Approach potential employers with a subsidized wage offer
in hand once they are eligible
Career Focus Success
The Career Focus Program has been an extremely successful
program for both employers and new graduates with over 400
placements since 2005.
Figure 2-2: Pre-participation Employment Status, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Unemployed
Participants
33.5%
Student
34.3%
Employed
No Answer
28.3%
3.9%
The Career Focus Program is
a fantastic initiative and is
administered beautifully. I have
only gratitude for allowing Bio
and our participants to be a part
of such an important program
that will certainly improve
Figure 2-3: Post-participation Employment Status, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Unemployed
Participants*
5.1%
Student
5.1%
Employed with
Same Company
Employed with
Different Company
67.7%
22.2%
* Due to rounding, percentages do not necessarily equal 100%.
Eighty-nine-point-nine percent (89.9%) of participants were
employed full-time post-program. Ninety-five percent (95%)
of participants were either employed or returned to school;
surpassing previous year’s participant program success.
Part of the success of this program has been the overall industry
engagement as seen in the following report and on the BioTalent
Canada website, where some participating organizations talk and
share news about the Career Focus Program. For more success
stories, visit www.biotalent.ca/success.
Canada’s position in the global
biotech realm.
Jeremy deWaard,
Director of Collections,
Biodiversity Institute of Ontario
Employer
Employers
Eighty-eight employers
participated in the Career Focus
Program from 2013-2015.
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
5
NEW GRAD PROFILE
BIO-Economy new graduate profile
The program has provided me
with the perfect balance of
structure and non-structure
to pursue my interests and
passions. My employer has
done an outstanding job of
mentoring me and guiding me
through the complex world of
biotech and corporate structure.
Michael G.
Participant
6 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
The average new graduate entering the Canadian bio-economy
for the first time with wage subsidy funding has a 3 in 5 chance
of being female and is on average 25 years old. Odds are she
speaks English fluently with a 13% chance she speaks only
French. Before entering the program there was a 34% chance
that she was either unemployed or had a 34% chance she had
just graduated and was looking for her first work-placement that
would make good use of her university or college education.
As a condition of entry into the Career Focus wage subsidy
program, all participants must have recently completed
some form of post-secondary education. As such, there is an
82.3% chance that this new graduate has a bachelor’s degree,
24.4% chance she has a college diploma or Diplôme d’Études
Collégiales (DEC) and 21.3% chance that she’s got a master’s,
doctoral or post-doctoral degree.
The typical graduate participated in the program for 6.3 months
and had a 95% chance of continued full-time employment or
returning to school. With a success rate this high, employers
should consider revising their estimate of a full year of work
experience required. This data suggests that 6-7 months of
practical work experience is sufficient to learn the day-to-day
skills necessary to be successful in a post-education work
environment.
82.3%
Ba c h
Gender ratio
24.4%
elor ’s d egree
21.3%
Colle g e / DEC
First language
Maste PhD
r /
NEW GRADS
English
88%
French
12%
ENTERING
BIOTECH
THROUGH
Average age
25
CAREER FOCUS
Earns
between
Length of participation
6.3
months
$21,500
$80,000
34%
CAREER
FOCUS
Unemployed
90%
Employed full-time
Figure 3-1: New Grads Entering Biotech Through Career Focus, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
7
Placement location
49%
4.7%
4.7%
PLACEMENTS
BY REGION
14.1%
1.6%
3.5%
SK
QC
ON
NS
MB
BC
AB
22.4%
31.3%
10.7%
COMPANIES
BY REGION
9.1%
MB/SK
NB/NL/NS/PE
QC
AB/BC
ON
Unidentified
26.3%
13.6%
9.1%
Figure 3-2: Comparison of Location of Placements
for New Grads with National Industry Job
Placements, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Figure 3-2 shows the percentage of participant placements broken
down by region and is compared to the data from BioTalent Canada’s
Sequencing the Data national labour market study report of
bio-economy companies across Canada. Although about one third
of bio-economy companies are found in Ontario, nearly half of
all Career Focus Program placements were in that province. Low
participation is particularly evident in eastern Canada where the
share of participant placements was significantly lower than would
be expected given the eastern share of the number of bio-economy
companies.
Anecdotal feedback from those outside central Canada suggests
there is a perception that national programs tend to be reserved
for Ontario companies and that non-Ontario companies will be
uncompetitive in the review process of their applications for
subsidies. This suggests more communication of the program and
its simple application process may be required across the country.
Education
It is important to note that one of the criteria of the Career Focus
Program is that participants must be between the ages of 15 and 30
at the time of start of the placement, and they must have completed
the post-secondary education requirement (either at least a degree
or diploma) within the past three years. They must also not currently
be enrolled in further studies and willing to work full-time.
Notably, the number of years often required to complete a doctoral
or post-doctoral degree likely means that many applicants to the
program would be ineligible due to the 30 year old upper age limit.
The average age of a Canadian post-doctoral graduate is 342.
Two data-sets were captured – the participant’s most recent
education and their previous. Some participants had more than
two diploma/degrees but this number was limited and thus data
not collected on more than two levels of education.
The previous level of education of most of the graduates that
participated in the program was most likely to be a bachelor’s
degree with a distant second being the college diploma or diplôme
d’études collégiales (DEC) as seen in Figure 3-3. A handful of
applicants had more advanced degrees. There was a much more
even distribution of education types at the most recent level of
education as seen in Figure 3-4. About a third of participants had
acquired a bachelor’s degree most recently, while a quarter each
had secured a master’s degree or a college diploma.
2
8 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
T he 2013 Canadian Postdoc Survey: Painting a Picture of Canadian Postdoctoral Scholars,
p.12, The Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars/L’Association Canadienne de
Stagiaires Postdoctoraux (CAPS - ACSP) and Mitacs, October 2013
For those applicants that completed a bachelor’s degree, 48.3% went on
to complete a master’s degree, and 25.9% chose to complete a college
diploma (Figure 3-5). For those applicants that completed a diploma/
DEC, 60% went on to complete a bachelor’s degree and 32% opted to
complete a second diploma/DEC (Figure 3-6).
The number of years of education the participants have completed in
order to begin an entry-level position in the biotechnology industry
demonstrates the importance of programs such as the Career Focus
wage subsidy program to help bridge them from academia to the
private sector. This data reinforces what HR managers reported to
BioTalent Canada in 2013 concerning the advanced educational
requirements by occupational function that can be found in Figure 2-1
of the Sequencing the Data report.
29.5%
71.4%
23.0%
2.2%
4.9%
0.8%
Figure 3-3: Previous Education of New Grads,
BioTalent Canada, 2015
48.3%
8.6%
25.9%
Post-Doc
PhD
Master
Bachelor
Diploma/DEC
Other
4.9%
0.4%
2.2%
35.3%
Post-Doc
PhD
Master
Bachelor
Diploma/DEC
Other
Post-Doc
PhD
Master
Bachelor
Diploma/DEC
Other
6.9%
10.3%
Figure 3-5: Most Recent Education After Bachelor’s Degree,
BioTalent Canada, 2015
25.4%
Figure 3-4: M
ost Recent Education of New Grads,
BioTalent Canada, 2015
60.0%
32.0%
4.0%
Post-Doc
PhD
Master
Bachelor
Diploma/DEC
Other
4.0%
Figure 3-6: M
ost Recent Education After Diploma/DEC,
BioTalent Canada, 2015
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
9
100
CITIZENSHIP
94.5%
Permanent Resident
Canadian
80
60
40
Visible Minorities
20
4.5%
0
Figure 3-7: Citizenship Status of New Grads,
BioTalent Canada, 2015
80
67%
70
No
Yes
No Answer
60
50
40
30
24%
20
10
In order to participate in the Career Focus Program, all
participants had to be either Canadian citizens, permanent
residents or refugees with recognized status in Canada. While
there were no refugees identified as part of the program, the
clear majority of participants were Canadian citizens with a
select few permanent residents (Figure 3-7).
9%
0
Figure 3-8: Part of a Visible Minority Group of New Grads,
BioTalent Canada, 2015
It was optional for participants to respond to this question.
However, most applicants did respond and fully one-quarter
identified as being a member of a visible minority group
(Figure 3-8). Since Statistics Canada data from the 2011
National Household Survey3 suggest that one fifth of Canada’s
population self-identify as a member of a visible minority group,
there is proportionate representation of visible minority groups
in the Career Focus Program.
Language
About 20% of all participants are fully bilingual in Canada’s
two official languages with the majority speaking English only
(Figure 3-9). Only 6% of participants are unilingual French.
According to the 2011 Statistics Canada household survey, the
overall number of participants that have identified themselves
as fluent in French is less than to the 30.1% of French speakers
in the Canadian population. Participation of French speakers in
the Career Focus Program is therefore under-represented in the
country as a whole.
The wage subsidy program allows AES to invest in high-potential graduate students.
The trained participants can contribute by working for AES or by working on the
application of our products.
Tiemin Huang, CEO,
Advanced Electrophoresis Solutions Ltd.,
Employer
3
10 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-010-x/2011001/tbl/tbl2-eng.cfm
Figure 3-9: Official Language of Choice, BioTalent Canada, 2015
English
French
The Career Focus Program
helped me find full-time
Both
Official Language of Choice
88%
12%
Ability to Speak Language
74%
6%
20%
Ability to Write Language
74.3%
6%
19.7%
employment in my field
of study, which was
biotechnology. The program
AGE
allowed me to find a
Due to the age limits established as part of the program (15-30) it
is difficult to draw comparative data from the program to Statistics
Canada grouped data. The average age of participants was 25
(Figure 3-10). This age may be slightly higher for starting out in
an entry-level career due to the number of years of education
required in order to enter the industry for the first time.
position where I can gain
practical experience in the
biotechnology industry and
also apply the knowledge I
acquired in school.
Figure 3-10: Age of Participant, BioTalent Canada, 2015
21-24
Career Focus Participants*
Sanah B.
Participant
25-31
52.4%
47.6%
* The youngest participant was 21 years old and the oldest turned 31 over the course
of the program (participants could not be over 30 years old at the time of intake).
This program has had a tremendous impact for MANTECH. A full-time marketing person has allowed
MANTECH to almsot immediately start using social media as a sales tool. We quickly saw an increase
in leads which directly impacts potential sales. As well, our products/technologies are now the
topic of discussions with a wide variety of individuals that we never before had contact from which
is helping MANTECH’s brand reach potential users from a broader range of industries. Kathleen’s
knowledge and expertise has provided this.
Lynn Menegotto, HR,
Mantech Inc.
Employer
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
11
NEW GRAD SALARIES
new graduate salaries
This is the type of program the
government should be funding.
It benefits both the employer
and recent graduate. It allows
the employer to evaluate the
peformance and productivity
prior to making a more significant
investment. I believe it is an
invaluable experience/opportunity
The salary ranges for new hires in this sector are significant.
The highest-paid new graduate made $80,000 as a visualization
developer with a bachelor of sciences degree. By comparison, the
lowest paid starting salary was $21,500 as a Technical Writer – also
with a bachelor of sciences degree. The average starting salary
was $37,632. For those people that saw an increase in their salary,
over the duration of the program, the average salary increase
was $1,677. By comparison, based on the 2013 Statistics Canada
National Graduate Survey, median starting salary for a Bachelors
graduate was $57,000 for all new graduates in the country.
Salary increase
Figure 4-1: Salary Increase, BioTalent Canada, 2015
for the “intern” to get their foot in
the door.
Dianne Beveridge, President,
Ayva Educational Solutions Ltd.
Employer
12 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Average
Lowest
Highest
Salary Increase
$1,677
- $20,000
$14,020
Salary Increase Without Outliers *
$2,423
$370
$7,750
* Two salaries acted as significant outliers in the data. As such, those two salaries
at top and bottom were removed since they had such a significant impact on the
average data to arrive at the salary information.
GENDER
Fifty-six-point-nine percent (56.9%) of program participants
were female. According to Statistics Canada (2012) workforce
survey, 59% of science graduates leaving university or college for
the first time are women. The program is clearly representative
of the graduates entering the labour market. Unfortunately,
female graduates starting salaries are $6,728 less than their
male counterparts. The gap between male and female salaries is
similar in this program and sector to Canada as a whole, further
investigation as to why women are consistently making less than
men is necessary.
Lowest
Highest
has helped me by opening the
door for me to get hired in the
industry that I am interested
in working in, while giving me
valuable experience in my field.
Kevin T.
Participant
Figure 4-2: Starting Salary Based on Gender, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Average
The Career Focus Program
Median 4
Female
$34,847
$21,500
$68,000
$51,200
Male
$41,575
$21,500
$80,000
$57,000
* Statistics Canada, National Graduate Survey - Profile of Undergrads (BSc or BA
equivalent), 2013
Visible MinoritIEs
People who chose to self identify as being a member of a visible
minority group are making slightly less than their non-minority
counter-parts ($1,167). These numbers are so close however, that
it is possible with a larger sample size there would be no
siginificant difference.
Figure 4-3: Salary Based on Visible Minority Status, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Average
Lowest
Highest
Visible Minority
$36,706
$21,500
$60,000
Non-Minority
$37,873
$21,500
$80,000
Citizenship
There is also little discrepancy between those people who are
Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Canada. Permanent
residents actually make $1,371 more annually than their Canadian
counterparts. With more data, this discrepancy may very well
disappear.
4
2013 Statistics Canada National GraduateSurvey
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
13
Education
AVERAGE salary
The average salary of
new biotech grads with a
Bachelors degree is $15K less
than the National Median.
Generally as a rule in this sector, participants with post-graduate degrees
tended to have higher salaries. Doctoral and post-doctoral graduates
consistently started at significantly higher salaries than their peers in
this sector.
It is of particular interest to note that for those students that completed both
a bachelor’s degree and a college diploma/DEC, they typically made less than
their counterparts that completed only a bachelor’s degree or only a college
diploma/DEC. This seems counter-intuitive and suggests further research
from a larger dataset is required to understand what specifically these
students studied compared to their peers who completed only one degree/
diploma/DEC.
Even students that completed two bachelor’s degrees performed less well
on average than their peers who completed a single bachelor’s degree.
Figure 4-5: Salary Based on Level of Education, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Average
Lowest
Highest
Median*
Without the program, I likely
Bachelor Only
$37,806
$21,500
$80,000
$53,000
would not have been able to
Diploma/DEC Only
$35,622
$26,390
$72,000
$41,600
secure a full-time position at
Bachelor and Diploma/DEC
$34,509
$24,200
$56,345
Tipi Mountain. This funding
Diploma/DEC and Bachelor
$33,705
$26,390
$63,597
Master
$40,001
$26,390
$60,000
$70,000
has allowed me to work with
PhD/Post-Doc
$49,655
$37,584
$60,000
$75,000
my employer to develop a
Two Bachelor Degrees
$33,242
$27,202
$40,000
position that is relevant to
* Statistics Canada, National Graduate Survey, 2013
the business and in line with
REgion
my field of interest.
Taylor W.
Participant
Regionally, participants that entered the program in Ontario and British
Columbia/Alberta had higher salaries than participants in other provinces. It
is of particular interest to note that in Quebec, salaries for the program were
lower on average than in the other provinces.
Figure 4-6: Salary Based on Region, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Average
Lowest
Highest
Median*
British Columbia/Alberta
$38,416
$24,965
$63,597
$28,280
Ontario
$40,611
$21,500
$80,000
$31,290
Quebec
$32,607
$24,480
$68,000
$28,920
Manitoba/Saskatchewan
$37,790
$27,040
$58,200
$35,702
Atlantic (Nova Scotia Only)
$27,584
$24,200
$40,000
$27,290
* Statistics Canada, National Graduate Survey, 2013
14 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Preferred Official Language
While the majority of respondents selected English as their preferred
language of communication, 28 respondents from Quebec selected
French as their official language of communication and three from
Ontario. It is of interest to learn that only 20.1% of respondents in the
program identified themselves as being fully bilingual with most of
those coming from Quebec as well. Salary information provided seems
to indicate that French speakers in the program earned less than English
speakers, but it is very possible that this was influenced more by region
of work than official language of work.
The impact has been
extremely positive, allowing
an ‘incubation’ period
which has facilitated
skills development greatly
benefiting both employee
Figure 4-7: Salary Based on Preferred Official Language, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Average
Lowest
Highest
English
$38,995
$21,500
$80,000
French
$31,104
$24,480
$65,000
Bilingual
$34,579
$24,200
$68,000
and employer.
Jennifer Meade, CEO,
Tipi Mountain Native Plants Ltd.
Employer
Previous Employment Status
As a condition of the program, none of the participants had previous
employment in their discipline of study and interest. For those
participants that had been employed in other sectors, they tended
to earn more, as did those participants that were older demonstrating
that employers tend to value previous work experience, regardless of
the sector.
Those that identified as students or unemployed before entering
their first biotechnology job tended to earn less than their previously
employed peers.
Figure 4-8: Salary Based on Previous Employment Status, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Average
Lowest
Highest
Unemployed
$37,107
$21,500
$72,000
Student
$37,855
$22,000
$72,000
Employed
$38,500
$23,000
$80,000
Figure 4-9: Salary Based on Age Group, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Average
Lowest
Highest
21-24 Years Old
$36,850
$21,500
$72,000
25-31 Years Old
$38,484
$21,500
$80,000
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
15
CAREER PATHS
The National Occupational Classification
After graduating from biochemistry,
I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to
do, but moving forward I now have a
better idea of what I want and how to
get there.
Daniel A.
Participant
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is the nationally
accepted reference on occupations in Canada. It organizes over
40,000 job titles into 500 occupational group descriptions. It
is used daily by thousands of people to compile, analyze and
communicate information about occupations, and to understand
the jobs found throughout Canada’s labour market.
The NOC provides a standardized framework for organizing the
world of work in a coherent system. It is used to manage the
collection and reporting of occupational statistics and to provide
understandable labour market information. The structure and
content of the NOC are also implemented in a number of major
services and products throughout the private and public sectors5.
Standard classifications systems provide a good framework for
identifying positions and gathering trend data. In reality, actual
job titles may not always fit within a certain job category. Different
positions may be grouped together in a category because a
clear match cannot be found due to emerging careers such as
Bioinformatics Programmer Analyst and Native Plant Ecologist,
which fall under the same NOC group. The following figures
highlight a few of the differences between the NOC and the actual
job titles. This difference may indicate that further updates are
required for the NOC system to represent labour-market realities.
For a full list of the Career Focus position titles vs. the NOC see
Appendix 1A.
5
16 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2011/AboutNOC.aspx
Figure 5-1: Sample Comparison of NOC Code Titles with Actual
Occupation Titles Used in the Biotech Industry
NOC Code
NOC Title
Actual Title
0013
Manager in Communication
Assistant to the COO
Corporate Communications Manager
112
HR and Business Services
Professional
Recruitment Manager
0114
Other Administrative Services
Managers
Account Manager
Figure 5-2: Sample Comparison of NOC Code Titles with Actual
Occupation Titles Given
NOC Code
NOC Title
Actual Title
2121
Biologists and Related
Scientists
Assay Development Testing Scientist
Bioinformatics Programmer Analyst
Environmental Scientist
Field Biologist
The Career Focus Program has
Food Scientist
given me enough flexibility to
Native Plant Ecologist
explore my interests and passions,
Support Scientist
Tech Histology
and it has also provided me with
Technician
the perfect amount of direction
Toxicology Technician
and mentorship to ensure
that my “exploration” was not
Figure 5-3: Sample Comparison of NOC Code Titles with Actual
Occupation Titles Given
NOC Code
NOC Title
Actual Title
2221
Biological Technologists and
Technicians
Analyst Immunology
ungrounded.
Michael G.
Participant
Aquaculture Technician
Necropsy Technician
Research Technician
Science and Technology Product Specialist
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
17
The North American Industry Classification
System
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an
industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies
of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the
background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is
designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure
of the three countries and a common statistical framework to
facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on
supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that
industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of
production-related issues such as industrial performance.
NAICS is designed for the compilation of production statistics and,
therefore, for the classification of data relating to establishments. It
takes into account the specialization of activities generally found at
the level of the producing units of businesses. The criteria used to
group establishments into industries in NAICS are similarity of input
structures, labour skills and production processes6.
Similar differences between the actual job titles and NOC apply
to NAIC as well such as Corporate Communications Specialist and
Quality Control and Research Chemist falling under the “All Other
Professional Scientific and Technical Services” group. The following
Figures highlight a few of the differences between the NAIC system
and the actual job titles which may indicate further updates are
required for the NAIC system to represent labour market realities.
For a full list of the Career Focus position titles vs. NAIC see
Appendix 1B.
Figure 5-4: Comparison of NAICS Codes to Actual Position Titles Given
BioTalent Canada’s Bio-economy Skills Profiles identify
the core skills required for careers in biotech.
NAICS Code
NAICS Company Sector
Actual Position
5417
Research and Development
in the Physical, Engineering
and Life Sciences
Assistant Flavour Technologist (BioScience)
Chemical Technician
Customer Service Representative
Environmental Scientist
Process Engineer in Training
Regulatory Assistant
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Research Commercialization Manager
Research Technician
Research Technologist
6
18 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/subjects-sujets/standard-norme/naics-scian/2007/
introduction-eng.htm
Figure 5-5: Comparison of NAICS Codes to Actual Position Titles Given
NAICS Code
NAICS Company Sector
Actual Position
5419
All Other Professional, Scientific and
Technical Services
Analyste Immunologié et Chimie Analytique
Assay Development & Testing Scientist
Bioinformatics Programmer/Analyst
Chemist
Corporate Communications Specialist
Field Biologist
Food Scientist
Marketing Associate
Native Plant Ecologist
Quality Control & Research Chemist
R&D Assistant
Research Chemist
Scientist
Support Scientist
Systems and Optics Engineer
Tech Histology
Technician
Toxicology Technician
BioTalent Canada’s BioCareer Pathways identify where you want to go in
the bio-economy workforce.
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
19
SKILLS REQUIREMENTS
skills and competency requirements
I have been able to apply the
knowledge learned in University to
real-life applications in my field of
study. Working in a large company
has allowed me to learn different
aspects of developing flavours,
quality control and production.
This is valuable knowledge which
can be applied to many fields
in the food industry. Working
under a flavorist has helped me to
succesfully and efficiently develop
flavours and gain knowledge
about the food industry.
Natasha R.
Participant
20 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
In 2013, BioTalent Canada concluded in Sequencing the Data
that the single biggest obstacle to company product and/or
service development was access to capital, closely followed by a
lack of practical, non-academic skills of their full-time employees.
The Career Focus Program for many years has supported new
graduates in entering their first private-sector biotechnology jobs
by offering employers wage subsidies to hire recent graduates.
This support through BioTalent Canada from the Government
of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy has responded to
both of these critical barriers facing the biotechnology industry
by providing much needed capital to on-board entry-level
candidates who are then trained with the practical skills required
in the industry.
Furthermore, the next most significant issue companies identified
as a barrier to development was difficulty in identifying and
maintaining required skills. With 89% of candidates (see Figure
6-1) staying in the industry after they complete the wage subsidy
program, this issue has also been addressed.
Where employers specified a degree in the job description, this table
compares the highest level of post-secondary education attained:
By setting goals in the beginning of
the program, I was able to focus on
particular tasks and activities and
Figure 6-1 : Degree Requirement in Job Description vs. Actual Hire
BioTalent Canada, 2015
Degree Specified
Actual Education Completed
Diploma/DEC
PhD/Post-doc
2
Master
1
Bachelor
Diploma/DEC
Other
associate these directly with my
Bachelor
Master
PhD/
Post-Doc
100%
100%
106
9.43%
67.92%
19.81%
32
45.16%
48.39%
6.45%
110
10.91%
66.36%
20%
2.83%
2.73%
goals. Through this program, I have
became more comfortable in the
professional working-environment
and have learned to make more
accurate judgements during tasks
dealing with clients and deadlines.
Maida H.
Participant
In many cases, employers did not stipulate a specific degree/diploma
requirement, requesting only that candidates had experience
in a specific discipline.
This program allowed our company to open more positions for recent graduates. Having more
employees allowed us to be more competitive and service more customers. It also helped with the
“growth pain”, having to hire and train employees before being able to sell the services.
Elena Zveaghina, Office Manager,
ERA Environmental Consulting Inc.
Employer
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
21
Where employers specified a specific post-secondary education in their job description, they often hired candidates
with more education and training than that specified (Figure 6-2).
Figure 6-2: Disciplines in Science Led to the Following Occupations, BioTalent Canada, 2015
Discipline in Sciences Specified
Actual Education Completed
Diploma/DEC
Bachelor
Master
PhD/Post-doc
2
Master
1
Bachelor
106
10 -Total
1-Environmental Technician
1-Biotechnology
1-Agriculture
2-Science
2-Business
1-Lab Technician
1-Human Science
1-Chemical Engineer
72-Total
1-Agriculture & Environmental
Science
3-Computer Science
1-International Studies
1-Natural Resource Conservation
3-Arts
41-Science
2-Chemistry
3-Biology
6-Applied Science
1-Arts and Science
1-Biochemistry
1-Chemical Engineering
1-Commerce
4-Engineering
1-Food Science
1-Media Studies
1-Medical Science
21-Total
13-Science
1-Engineering
1-Health Science
1-Pathology & Lab Science
1-Biostatistics
1-Computer Science
1-Microbiology and
Immunology
2-Applied Science
Diploma/DEC
32
14-Total
3-Animal Health
1-Animal Technician
1-Bioecology
1-Biotechnology
1-Electrical Industrial
Technology
5-Science
2-Pharmaceutical
Manufacturing
16-Total
1-Agricultural & Environmental
Sciences
4-Biology
1-Medical Sciences
1-Pharmacy
6-Science
2-Biochemistry
1-Labour and Communications
2-Total
1-Microbiology &
Immunology
1-Science & Neuroscience
Other *
110
12-Total
73-Total
22-Total
PhD/ Post-Doc
1-Ecology & Evolutionary
Biology
1-Chemistry
1-Chemistry
*No educational qualification was specified by the employer - thus no sub-comparison can be made
22 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
3- Total
1- Biology
1-Science
1-Pharmacology
3-Total
It has long been known that education in one area can lead to a variety
of career opportunities. It is interesting to see the variety of positions
Career Focus participants worked in whether they had a bachelor’s or
master’s degree in science. The lists below show science background
can lead to a variety of careers.
Occupations with a bachelor’s of Science Degree
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Account Manager
Analyst (Biomarkers)
Analyst Lab
Assistant Buyer
Assistant Flavour Technologist (BioScience)
Customer Service Representative
Downstream Operator
Environmental Scientist
Field Biologist
Laboratory Assistant
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician I
Laboratory Assistant
Manufacturing Associate
Marketing Associate
Quality Assurance Technician
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Research Technician
Research Technologist
Sales Rep
Technical Writer/Technical Assistant/Laboratory Assistant
Visualization Developer
Without the Career Focus
Program I may have not
landed a position with
Nutrasource. With guidance
from my supervisors and
other employees within the
organzation, I’ve gained more
confidence professionally
and have obtained valuable
experience that will stay with me
throughout my career.
Patricia D.
Participant
Occupations with a master’s of science degree
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bioinformatics Programmer/Analyst
Controlled Substance Officer
Data Management Specialist
Inside Sales Representative
Laboratory Assistant
Laboratory Technician
Logistics Coordinator
Medical Writer
Product Interface Developer
Research Chemist
Research Technician
Software Developer
Support Scientist
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
23
FINAL THOUGHTS
Would this position have been created otherwise?
“No. The wage subsidy allowed the company
“No, not immediately. At that time we did
to take the time to properly train the
not have an open position. We only began
candidate.”
considering this position due to the subsidy.”
Lynn Menegotto, HR,
Mantech Inc.
Leon Linseman, Accountant,
Bauman Sawmill Inc.
“Yes. However, this subsidy has greatly
“For some participants, we might have been
helped to free limited resources that has
able to hire them without subsidies. However for
helped with the company growth.”
some others, our departmental budgets were very
Lew Lim, President & CEO,
Vielight Inc.
stretched. Therefore the subsidies had a significant
impact on the mandate length, and thus allowing
the new grad to contribute more!”
“No, our company is still a start-up and this
subsidy helped us out tremendously!”
Graham Jack, Senior Director of R&D,
Xagenic Inc.
24 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Jody Cohen, Talent Mining Specialist,
Pharmascience Inc.
“Possibly not. Although the section was very
“No, we would not have created this
busy and the work was certainly there, our
position without the subsidy because it is
budgets have been very tight. This funding
too expensive to hire inexperienced grads.
was a tremendous help!”
We would have looked for someone with
Arlene Girardin, HR Specialist,
experience.”
Atlantic Region, Maxxam Analytics
Bedrich Videl, President,
Nucro-Technics
“As a start-up organization, we operate in
“No, AES, as a start up business, cannot
a resource constrained environment. Likely,
afford to hire a newly graduated student
we would have hired for this position, but
without the wage subsidies.”
approximately 9-12 months later. Through
Biotalent, we have been able to achieve our
Tiemin Huang, CEO,
Advanced Electrophoresis Solutions Ltd.
corporate milestones much earlier.”
Kenneth To, Chief Operating Officer,
ViewsIQ
“It would not have been possible for TMNP to
create this position without the subsidy and
while we would have wanted to hire Taylor,
impact for all
The Career Focus wage subsidy program has had
a great impact on new graduates to develop new
skills and learn the industry. Employers have been
able to access the young talent they need, add
resources and grow their companies. All helping
to strenthening the available talent pool and
Canada’s bio-economy as a whole.
we would have been able to offer a less
stable and significant position.”
Jennifer Meade, CEO,
Tipi Mountain Native Plants Ltd.
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
25
APPendices
Appendix 1A: Comparison of NOC Code Titles with Actual Occupation Titles Given
NOC
NOC Title
Actual Title
0013
Manager in Communication
Assistant to the COO
Corporate Communications Specialist
112
HR and Business Service Professional
Recruitment Manager
0114
Other Administrative Services Managers
Account Manager
212
Life Science Professionals
Research Commercialization Manager
0823
Manager in Aquaculture
Fish Farm Technician
1122
Professional Occupation in Business Management Consulting
Junior Consultant
1123
Professional Occupation in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
Marketing & Communications Associate
Marketing & Sales Assistant
Marketing Associate
1241
Administrative Assistant
Admin Assistant
1254
Statistical Officers and Related Research Support Occupations
R&D Assistant
1254
Research Assistant
1411
General Office Support Worker
Documentation Coordinator
1523
Production Logistics Coordinators
Logistics Coordinator
2112
Chemist
Analyste Immunologié et Chimie Analytique (2)
Chemist (2)
Quality Control & Research Chemist (2)
Research Chemist
Scientist
2115
Other Professional Occupations in Physical Sciences
Systems and Optics Engineer
2121
Biologists and Related Scientists
Assay Development & Testing Scientist
Bioinformatics Programmer/Analyst
Environmental Scientist (5)
Field Biologist
Food Scientist
Native Plant Ecologist
Support Scientist
Tech Histology
Technician
Toxicology Technician (7)
2132
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical Engineer
2133
Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer
2134
Chemical Engineers
Junior Process Engineer
Process Engineer in Training (2)
2141
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers
Quality Engineer Associate
2148
Other Professional Engineers, N.E.C.
Engineering Intern
Executive Intern - Bioenergy
2171
Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
Technical Analyst
2172
Database Analysts and Data Administrators
Data Management Specialist
2174
Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
Business Application Developer
Product Interface Developer
Software Developer
Visualization Developer
26 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Appendix 1A: Comparison of NOC Code Titles with Actual Occupation Titles Given
NOC
NOC Title
Actual Title
2211
Chemical Technologists and Technicians
Analyst
Analyst (Biomarkers) (3)
Analyst lab
Assistant Flavour Technologist (BioScience)
Chemical Technician (2)
Chemistry Preparation Technologist
Controlled Substance Officer
Lab Analyst (3)
Laboratory Analyst
Laboratory Assistant
QA/QC Technician
Research Technologist (2)
Technician (Toxicology)
Technologist
2221
Biological Technologists and Technicians
Analyst Immunology
Aquaculture Technician
Necropsy Technician
Research Technician (4)
Science and Technology Product Specialist
2233
Forestry Technologists and Technicians
Manufacturing Associate
Quality Assurance Technician
Reagent Manufacturing Lead
2241
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electro mecanicien
2252
Industrial Designer
Designer (Dessinateur)
2262
Engineering Inspectors and Regulatory Officer
Regulatory Assistant
2283
Information Systems Testing Technicians
Software Tester
3212
Medical Laboratory Technicians and Pathologists' Assistant
Lab Assistant (3)
Lab Technician (2)
Lab Technician I
Laboratory Associate - IHC
Laboratory Clerk
Laboratory Technician
3213
Animal Health Technologists and Veterinary Technicians
Animal Technician
3215
Medical Radiation Technologist
Imaging Technologist
3219
Other Medical Technologists and Technician (Except Dental Health)
In Vivo Pharmacology Technician
4011
University Professor and Lecturer
Postdoctoral Fellow
4012
Post-secondary Teaching and Research Assistant
Laboratory Assistant (8)
4163
Business Development Officers and Marketing Researchers and Consultants
Business Development Associate
Learning Consultant
Marketing Assistant
4165
Health Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers
Research Associate (2)
5121
Authors and Writers
Jr. Medical Writer
Medical Writer
Technical Writer/Technical Assistant/Laboratory Assistant
6221
Technical Sales Specialist - Wholesale Trade
Forestry Representative
Sales Rep (2)
Sales Trainee - Alberta
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
27
Appendix 1A: Comparison of NOC Code Titles with Actual Occupation Titles Given
NOC
NOC Title
Actual Title
6222
Retail and Wholesale Buyers
Assistant Buyer
6411
Sales and Account Representatives - Wholesale Trade (NonTechnical)
Inside Sales Representative (2)
6552
Other Customer and Information Services Representatives
Customer Service Representative
8432
Nursery and Greenhouse Workers
Cultivation Assistant
9537
Other Products Assemblers, Finishers and Inspectors
Downstream Operator
Appendix 1B: Comparison of NAICS Code Positions with Actual Position Titles Given
NAICS
NAICS Company Sector
Actual Position
1153
Support Activities for Forestry
Forestry Representative
4183
Agricultural Chemical and Other Farm Supplies Merchant
Wholesalers
Sales Rep
Sales Rep - Alberta
Sales Trainee - Alberta
4189
All Other Merchant Wholesalers
Fish Farm Technician
5112
Software Publishers
Technical Analyst
5413
Architectural Services
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer
Designer (Dessinateur)
5415
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
Business Application Developer
Product Interface Developer
Software Developer
Visualization Developer
Software Tester
5416
Environmental Consulting Services
Junior Consultant
Lab Analyst
Medical Writer
5417
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life
Sciences
Research Commercialization Manager
Research Assistant (2)
Environmental Scientist (5)
Process Engineer in Training
Assistant Flavour Technologist (BioScience)
Chemical Technician
Research Technologist
Research Technician (4)
Regulatory Assistant
Research Associate
Customer Service Representative
5418
Other Services Relating to Advertising
Marketing & Communications Associate
28 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Appendix 1B: Comparison of NAICS Code Positions with Actual Position Titles Given
NAICS
NAICS Company Sector
Actual Position
5419
All Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Corporate Communications Specialist
Marketing Associate
R&D Assistant
Analyste Immunologié et Chimie Analytique (2)
Chemist (2)
Quality Control & Research Chemist (2)
Research Chemist
Scientist
Systems and Optics Engineer
Assay Development & Testing Scientist
Bioinformatics Programmer/Analyst
Field Biologist
Food Scientist
Native Plant Ecologist
Support Scientist
Tech Histology
Technician
Toxicology Technician (7)
Mechanical Engineer
Junior Process Engineer
Process Engineer in Training
Quality Engineer Associate
Engineering Intern
Executive Intern - Bioenergy
Data Management Specialist
Analyst (Biomarkers) (3)
Chemical Technician
Chemistry Preparation Technologist
Controlled Substance Officer
QA/QC Technician
Research Technologist
Technician (Toxicology)
Technologist
Analyst Immunology
Aquaculture Technician
Necropsy Technician
Science and Technology Product Specialist
Manufacturing Associate
Quality Assurance Technician
Reagent Manufacturing Lead
Lab Technician
Animal Technician
In Vivo Pharmacology Technician
Postdoctoral Fellow
Business Development Associate
Learning Consultant
Marketing Assistant
Research Associate
Jr. Medical Writer
Technical Writer/Technical Assistant/Laboratory Assistant (2)
Cultivation Assistant
Downstream Operator
5611
Office Administrative Services
Account Manager
Admin Assistant
Inside Sales Representative
5613
Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services
Recruitment Manager
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
29
Appendix 1B: Comparison of NAICS Code Positions with Actual Position Titles Given
NAICS
NAICS Company Sector
Actual Position
5619
All Other Support Services
Assistant to the COO
Marketing & Sales Assistant
Documentation Coordinator
Logistics Coordinator
Assistant Buyer
Inside Sales Representative
6215
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
Analyst
Analyst lab
Laboratory Analyst
Laboratory Assistant (12)
Lab Technician I
Laboratory Associate - IHC
Laboratory Clerk
Laboratory Technician (2)
Imaging Technologist
8112
Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and
Maintenance
Electro mecanicien
Biotech Career Resources
• The PetriDishTM Job Board
• Scotiabank StartRight® Biotech Resumé Builder
• BioCareer Pathways
• Bio-economy Skills Profiles
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30 Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
Gathering the data
Eighty-eight companies hired 255 of graduates from postsecondary institutions across Canada as part of the BioTalent
Canada administered Career Focus wage subsidy program
funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment
Strategy.
The sample group had good representation for regional,
education level, gender, self-identified minority group, language
profile, age and prior employment status.
When comparing the data from the Career Focus Program,
occasionally Statistics Canada data was entered based on
the 2011 and 2012 workforce surveys and the 2014 National
Graduate Survey as presented in CANSIM.
Lastly, position titles were tied to National Occupation Codes
(NOC) most closely aligned with the functions of the positions.
Companies where participants worked were tied to the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that best
represents the function of their industry.
Opening the Door: Building Careers for New Grads in Biotech
31
BioTalent Canada wishes to
thank those companies who have participated in the Career
Focus Program. Through their support in hiring new grads,
these companies have helped to strengthen the biotech
industry’s talent pool.
Special thanks to our Premium and Supporting Report Partners.
Premium Report Partner
Where science meets business.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
mbiotech.ca
Major Partners
Norma K. Biln, Chief Executive Officer,
Augurex Life Sciences Corp.
Executive Patron
Supporting Report Partners
Data collection funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy.
The opinions and interpretations expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those
of the Government of Canada.
Copyright BioTalent Canada 2015.
www.biotalent.ca